Narrative WritingNarrative Writing Things to Remember Things to Remember When Writing a NarrativeWhen Writing a Narrative12 Days of Lessons12 Days of Lessons

#1 – Generating Ideas #1 – Generating Ideas (Warm Fuzzy/Cold Prickly)(Warm Fuzzy/Cold Prickly)

The best ideas for writing come from your own The best ideas for writing come from your own experiences.experiences.

Your strongest emotion which give you “warm Your strongest emotion which give you “warm fuzzy” or “cold Prickly” feelings are usually the fuzzy” or “cold Prickly” feelings are usually the most crystal clear.most crystal clear.

Make a T chartMake a T chart On one side label Warm FuzzyOn one side label Warm Fuzzy

Ex. The smell of my grandma’s bakingEx. The smell of my grandma’s baking When I met my puppy for the first timeWhen I met my puppy for the first time

On the other side label Cold Prickly On the other side label Cold Prickly Ex. When my team lost the big gameEx. When my team lost the big game My favorite uncle’s funeralMy favorite uncle’s funeral

#2 – Your Story Beginning#2 – Your Story Beginning

Your story needs a strong beginning. You can Your story needs a strong beginning. You can achieve this using one of the following achieve this using one of the following methods:methods:

Dialogue (Conversation)Dialogue (Conversation)A QuestionA QuestionA Vivid DescriptionA Vivid DescriptionAn Interesting FactAn Interesting FactSound EffectsSound Effects

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2992http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2992

DialogueDialogue

““ Hurry or youHurry or you’’ll be late!” called my ll be late!” called my mother from the bottom of the stairs. mother from the bottom of the stairs. ““Today of all days you want to be on time.Today of all days you want to be on time.”” If I had only know what that day would If I had only know what that day would bring, I would have stayed in bed.bring, I would have stayed in bed.

A QuestionA Question

Have you ever had a day when you Have you ever had a day when you wished you had stayed in bed? As I rushed wished you had stayed in bed? As I rushed to catch the bus on what seemed to be a to catch the bus on what seemed to be a perfectly normal day I had no idea what perfectly normal day I had no idea what was ahead of me.was ahead of me.

A Vivid DescriptionA Vivid Description

The sun was warm on my back as The sun was warm on my back as I raced toward the waiting yellow I raced toward the waiting yellow school bus. As I nestled into the worn school bus. As I nestled into the worn leather seat I was greeted by the leather seat I was greeted by the friendly voices of other excited friendly voices of other excited children. The look on my face was one children. The look on my face was one of confidence and contentment. With a of confidence and contentment. With a jerk the bus rumbled down the road jerk the bus rumbled down the road and I was on my way into one of the and I was on my way into one of the worst days of my life.worst days of my life.

An Interesting FactAn Interesting Fact

Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It Shock has been known to kill ten year olds. It can cause their brains to explode and their heart can cause their brains to explode and their heart to stop dead still. These facts raced through my to stop dead still. These facts raced through my mind as I stood dumbfounded in front of my fifth mind as I stood dumbfounded in front of my fifth grade classmates. I wish I had stayed in bed!grade classmates. I wish I had stayed in bed!

Sound EffectsSound Effects

““Buzzzzzz!Buzzzzzz!”” The sound of my The sound of my alarm clock droned in my ears as I alarm clock droned in my ears as I struggled to come awake. With a start I struggled to come awake. With a start I sat straight up in my bed. This was my sat straight up in my bed. This was my big day and I had to be on time.big day and I had to be on time.

#3 - Paragraphs#3 - Paragraphs

Be sure your story has paragraphs. They Be sure your story has paragraphs. They tell when you're switching time, place, tell when you're switching time, place, topic or speaker, and they help break topic or speaker, and they help break the page up so it is not just a solid the page up so it is not just a solid block of writing. block of writing.

How Do I Know When To How Do I Know When To Start a New Paragraph?Start a New Paragraph?

There are a few standard times to make a new There are a few standard times to make a new paragraph: paragraph:

When you start in on a new topic When you start in on a new topic

When you skip to a new time When you skip to a new time

When you skip to a new place When you skip to a new place

When a new person begins to speak When a new person begins to speak

When you want to produce a dramatic effect When you want to produce a dramatic effect

http://www.saidsimple.com/content/When-to-Make-a-New-Paragraph

#4 - Capitalization & #4 - Capitalization & PunctuationPunctuation

CapitalizeCapitalize Beginnings of Sentences Beginnings of Sentences Proper NounsProper Nouns

PunctuatePunctuate End Marks (question mark, period, exclamation End Marks (question mark, period, exclamation

marks)marks) Commas when joining two sentences with a Commas when joining two sentences with a

conjunction, addressing a person, with conjunction, addressing a person, with quotations, etc.quotations, etc.

#5 – Use Rich Words#5 – Use Rich Words

Remember words such asRemember words such as said said, , wentwent, and , and putput are DEAD. Use words that describe the action.are DEAD. Use words that describe the action.

WentWent

NOTNOT

My dad My dad wentwent to work. to work.

BUTBUT

My dad My dad racedraced to work. to work.

SaidSaid

NOTNOT

Jane Jane saidsaid she had a secret. she had a secret.

BUTBUT

Jane Jane whispered to Peterwhispered to Peter a wonderful secret. a wonderful secret.

#6 - Wow Words#6 - Wow Words

Show your reader that you have a high-quality, Show your reader that you have a high-quality, first-class, superior, excellent, exceptional, first-class, superior, excellent, exceptional, outstanding, brilliant, extraordinary, outstanding, brilliant, extraordinary, incomparable vocabulary by using 5incomparable vocabulary by using 5thth grade grade vocabulary words.vocabulary words.

Don’t Use Use These Instead:

goodacceptable, admirable, commendable, praiseworthy,virtuous, accomplished, skilled,

bad Defective, erroneous, inadequate, substandard,corrupt, vile, distressing, severe, offensive, immoral

thing material object, article, concept, entity, apparatus, device, detail, statement, items.

big considerable, colossal, immense, sizable, vast, eminent, influential, paramount, prime, prominent

small diminutive, immature, minute, slight, negligible, petty, trivial, limited.

important far-reaching, grave, momentous, significant, substantial, prominent, notable

happy content, joyous, jubilant, thrilled, advantageous, favorable, fortunate,

sad sorrowful, cheerless, dismal, gloomy, melancholy, mournful, somber grievous

http://alon.hasharon.k12.il/new_ataralon/mikzoot/english/.%5Cdenise_text%5Cforcedownload.asp?fileToDownload=wowWords12class6.doc

Wow WordsWow Words

http://resources.sparklebox.me.uk/501-999/sb665.pdf

#7 - Show, Don#7 - Show, Don’’t Tellt Tell

The The Show, DonShow, Don’’t Tellt Tell method of writing is method of writing is when the writer is able to create a picture in when the writer is able to create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from the the reader's mind, to get away from the repetition of such empty words like went, big, repetition of such empty words like went, big, or said.or said.

NOTNOT

Susan exercised.Susan exercised.

BUTBUT

Sweat poured from SusanSweat poured from Susan’’s forehead as she continued to s forehead as she continued to do one hundred sit-ups .do one hundred sit-ups .

#8 - Conversation#8 - Conversation

The Five Rules for Writing Direct QuotationsThe Five Rules for Writing Direct Quotations

1. Add quotation marks around only spoken words.

2. Separate tag from quote with a comma.

3. Capitalize first word of the direct quotation.

4. Add end punctuation inside the quotation.

5. Add other needed capitalization and punctuation

Mary whispered, “I’ve got a secret.”

ConversationConversationRemember…Remember…

You must make a new paragraph every time a You must make a new paragraph every time a different person speaks!!!! different person speaks!!!!

“This is it! Isn’t it wonderful?” Mom sang out with her irritatingly optimistic attitude.

“I wouldn’t exactly call it wonderful,” I added my two cents.

“I love it!” shouted Timmy as he spotted the rugged rocky backdrop of the house. He ran past the house, dropped his bag, and immediately found the first stepping stone that would hold his weight. He began to shimmy up the steep incline to begin his first exploration.

#9 - Sentences#9 - Sentences

Vary your sentences.Vary your sentences. Are some of your sentences long and others Are some of your sentences long and others

short?short? Do you start the beginnings differently?Do you start the beginnings differently? Do some sentences start with a part of speech Do some sentences start with a part of speech

other than a noun or pronoun?other than a noun or pronoun?

#10 – Figurative #10 – Figurative LanguageLanguage

Use a little figurative language to add interest Use a little figurative language to add interest to your story.to your story.

SimileSimile

MetaphorMetaphor

AlliterationAlliteration

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

SimileSimileSimile - comparison between two unlike Simile - comparison between two unlike

things that have something in common things that have something in common using like or asusing like or as

Examples…Examples…It's been a hard day's night and I've been It's been a hard day's night and I've been

working like a dog. - The Beatles working like a dog. - The Beatles My heart is like an open highway. - Jon Bon My heart is like an open highway. - Jon Bon

Jovi Jovi like two peas in a podlike two peas in a pod

like Christmas in summer like Christmas in summer as hungry as a bearas hungry as a bear

as nutty as a fruitcakeas nutty as a fruitcakeas quick as lightningas quick as lightning

MetaphorMetaphor

Metaphor– comparison between two Metaphor– comparison between two unlike things that have something in unlike things that have something in common without using like or ascommon without using like or as

Examples…Examples…

Patty was a raging tiger when she lost Patty was a raging tiger when she lost her lunch money. her lunch money.

During the night the forest was a dark, During the night the forest was a dark, frightening battlefield.frightening battlefield.

AlliterationAlliteration

Alliteration - repetition of usually initial consonant Alliteration - repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables syllables

ExamplesExamplesdown in the dumpsdown in the dumpsdo or diedo or dieright as rainright as rainsink or swimsink or swimpay the pricepay the priceback to the basicsback to the basicsgreen as grassgreen as grasslive the lifelive the life

OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia

The imitation of natural sounds in word form. These The imitation of natural sounds in word form. These words help us form mental pictures about the words help us form mental pictures about the things, people, or places that are described things, people, or places that are described

ExamplesExamplesbuzzbuzzhisshissroarroarwoofwoofbangbangpoppophisshisssizzlesizzle

Can you think of

more?

#11- Plot Structure#11- Plot Structure

http://www.learner.org/interactives/story/http://www.learner.org/interactives/story/cinderella.htmlcinderella.html

a a plot, including setting and characters

a climax (This is when the plot is solved.)

an ending

United StreamingUnited Streaming

Parts of a Story: Huck and Jim [05:34] Parts of a Story: Huck and Jim [05:34]

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=20D49155-2509-index.cfm?guidAssetId=20D49155-2509-447F-8C47-447F-8C47-69C9B3D2128A&blnFromSearch=1&productc69C9B3D2128A&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=USode=US

BeginningBeginning

In the beginning of your story, you should In the beginning of your story, you should introduce your introduce your characterscharacters. .

The reader should also know about the world your The reader should also know about the world your characters live incharacters live in (the setting) and the something about each of the characters in your story.

The beginning of your story is also the place where your plot (the problem) is first introduced.

MiddleMiddle

Your story needs to build to something exciting, the Your story needs to build to something exciting, the climax. climax. Write about a simple conflict, a task that must be completed, a question that must be answered, or a barrier that must be overcome.

Rising Action

Climax

Beginning

Resolution

MiddleMiddle

IncludeIncludeActionsActionsDialogueDialogueSensory DetailsSensory DetailsThoughts and FeelingsThoughts and FeelingsSuspense (Remember to build to a Suspense (Remember to build to a

climax.)climax.)

EndingEnding

This is the big finish. The end This is the big finish. The end should reveal how you overcame should reveal how you overcame your problem. All conflicts are your problem. All conflicts are resolved and everything goes resolved and everything goes back to normal.back to normal.

EDITINGEDITING

When your story is complete with a strong When your story is complete with a strong beginning, middle, and end you may begin beginning, middle, and end you may begin the EDIT process.the EDIT process.

First, make sure your sentences make sense. First, make sure your sentences make sense. ““Does it sound right?Does it sound right?” It helps to have another ” It helps to have another person read it aloud to you. Then you can hear person read it aloud to you. Then you can hear what you’re missing.what you’re missing.

Circle any words that don’t look right or that Circle any words that don’t look right or that you’re not sure you you’re not sure you spelledspelled correctly. correctly.

Check Check capitalscapitals : All sentence starts, proper : All sentence starts, proper nouns, beginnings of quotations.nouns, beginnings of quotations.

Check Check punctuationpunctuation: End of every sentence, : End of every sentence, quotation marks, commas, apostrophes.quotation marks, commas, apostrophes.

TIME to PUBLISH!!TIME to PUBLISH!!

Decide how you want to publish.Decide how you want to publish.Do you want to type your story and Do you want to type your story and

illustrate?illustrate?Do you want to publish your story on Do you want to publish your story on

the internet?the internet?Do you want to make your story into Do you want to make your story into

an iMovie with voice and music?an iMovie with voice and music?Maybe you don’t want to publish this Maybe you don’t want to publish this

one… Start another one!one… Start another one!